Coaching Staff – Bobcats Lacrosse at Bates College

PRINCESS L. ZABEL

Head Coach

Bates College is excited to announce Princess L. Zabel as the new head coach of its women's lacrosse program. Zabel, a dynamic and accomplished coach with over a decade of experience, brings a proven track record of success, leadership, and a commitment to excellence both on and off the field.

Zabel, now the eighth head coach in program history, joins Bates after a highly successful tenure at the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), where she most-recently guided the Blue Jays to a remarkable 10-1 conference record (12-5 overall), and their first playoff berth since 2014. With extensive experience at multiple high-caliber programs, Zabel is uniquely positioned to elevate the Bates Women's Lacrosse program to new heights.

"I am thrilled to join Bates College and take on the role of Head Women's Lacrosse Coach," said Zabel. "Bates has long been recognized for its excellence in academics and athletics, and the opportunity to lead the Bobcats in the highly competitive NESCAC is both exciting and humbling. I look forward to working with our student-athletes to build a championship-caliber team that excels on the field, in the classroom, and beyond."

Zabel has a strong background in both coaching and player development, with a particular focus on building strong, cohesive teams and fostering a positive, inclusive environment. She has coached 16 All-Conference players and 19 All-Academic selections, while guiding her teams to 15 NCAA statistical rankings. Her coaching philosophy is grounded in developing student-athletes' skills, character, and academic success, ensuring they leave the program with a lasting sense of pride and connection.

"I am confident that Princess will be a transformative leader for our women's lacrosse program," said Will Rothermel, Interim Director of Athletics at Bates College. "Her commitment to excellence and ability to inspire and develop student-athletes will be instrumental as we continue to elevate the program. I look forward to seeing the Bobcats achieve new levels of success under her leadership."

In addition to her coaching expertise, Zabel brings a wealth of experience in recruitment, fundraising, and alumni engagement. She has demonstrated an ability to connect with top-tier talent and develop strong relationships with student-athletes, families, and alumni. Her connections with leading club programs and her work with diverse student-athletes will position Bates to continue attracting exceptional talent to the program.

Zabel also serves as the owner and director of Black Pirate Lacrosse, an organization she founded in 2019 that focuses on recruiting events, youth program consulting, and athlete performance.

Before her tenure at Saint Joseph, Zabel also served in various capacities at High Point University, Sacred Heart University, Bucknell University, Central Connecticut State University (head coach) and Villanova University, making significant contributions to those respective programs. She also currently serves as the head coach for the Dominican Republic Women's National Lacrosse Team, preparing it for the PALA 2025 Games and World Games in 2026.

Zabel's leadership style emphasizes personal mentorship, academic achievement, and a commitment to student-athlete well-being. She is excited to build on the strong foundation of the Bates program in an effort to elevate the program to national prominence.

"I am deeply committed to advancing the legacy of Bates Women's Lacrosse, empowering our student-athletes to succeed both on the field and in their academic pursuits, and creating a meaningful connection that lasts a lifetime," Zabel added.

A member of the Danbury (Conn.) High School Hall of Fame Class of 2024, Zabel graduated from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and a minor in sociology. A former Division I women's lacrosse student-athlete, Princess earned Big East Conference honors while laying the foundation for her successful coaching career.

Zabel replaces Renee Dowd who resigned in November to take over the helm of the women's lacrosse program at Franklin & Marshall.

AMANDA ZABEL

Assistant Coach (Goalkeepers)

Amanda Zabel comes to Bates College with a diverse background in collegiate coaching, player development, business leadership, and student-athlete mentorship.

Zabel joins Bates after serving as an assistant coach at the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), where she worked with goalkeepers and offensive players while helping guide the program's scouting, game planning, recruiting, and community engagement efforts. During her tenure, Saint Joseph student-athletes earned numerous conference honors, including GNAC Rookie of the Year, all-conference recognition, and weekly conference awards.

A veteran of the collegiate coaching ranks, Zabel has also completed two coaching stints at Sacred Heart University (2010-13, 2020-21), where she worked with goalkeepers, defenders, and attackers while assisting with recruiting, film analysis, academic support, compliance, and player development. During her time with the Pioneers, Sacred Heart produced a Freshman All-Rookie Team selection, multiple All-NEC honorees, an NEC Defensive Player of the Week, three NEC Tournament appearances, and an NEC regular-season championship.

In 2017, Zabel returned to her alma mater, Central Connecticut State University, as an assistant coach. There, she developed the Blue Devils' goalkeepers, assisted with defensive systems, scouting reports, team travel, and budget operations, and helped mentor the program's all-time goalkeeping record holder.

Beyond the collegiate game, Zabel is the founder and co-owner of Black Pirate Lacrosse, a player development and training company established in 2019. Through the organization, she provides specialized goalkeeper instruction, recruiting guidance, and individual and group training opportunities. She also serves as Goalie Director for Nor'Easter Lacrosse. Under her leadership, Black Pirate Lacrosse has grown into a successful regional business serving athletes throughout New England.

A former standout goalkeeper, Zabel starred at Central Connecticut State University, where she remains among the program's most accomplished netminders. She set school records with two 25-save performances and earned multiple top-10 national rankings during her collegiate career. She was also recognized as a Northeast Conference Academic Achievement Award recipient and graduated magna cum laude.

Prior to her coaching career, Zabel worked in government and consulting roles, including positions with the Connecticut General Assembly and Deloitte's Government & Public Services practice. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology with a minor in Sociology from Central Connecticut State University and later received a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of New Haven.

ADAM DUBE

Assistant Coach

Adam Dube lives in Turner with his wife, children, and their dog, Popham.

A lifelong athlete, Adam’s playing career includes roller hockey (national Most Valuable Goalie at age 13), captain of his high school boys’ soccer team, back-to-back state championships with the 1998–99 St. Dominic ice hockey team, and a standout career as a high school lacrosse goalie. That background shaped how he sees the game: sports teach lessons that last well beyond the field, and adversity shows up in every sport, in every form.

His coaching career began with the boys’ lacrosse team at Oak Hill High School. He has continued coaching in the lacrosse and hockey communities ever since, with a focus on giving back locally.

Adam founded Yard Dawgz Lacrosse Club with support from local coaches and a growing partnership with the Auburn Recreation Department. In the club’s first year—running clinics and bringing players to 6v6 tournaments—he helped nearly 300 kids extend their lacrosse season and get the extra reps they needed.